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Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile: Shannon Rowbury Defends Women's Title, Amine Laalou Wins Men's Race
Thrilling Finishes in Professional Races, Nearly 4,000 Overall Finishers
Photo above by www.photorun.net: Shannon Rowbury won the women's 5000m (15:00.51, PR) at the Payton Jordan meet in May
From New York Road Runners, Running USA wire
September 27, 2010
New York, NY
Finishing off their 2010 outdoor seasons in fine style, American Olympian Shannon Rowbury of San Francisco, CA and Amine Laalou of Morocco were victorious at the Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile on Sunday, September 26 in Manhattan. Shannon Rowbury, 26, defended her 2009 title with a surge in the final meters (4:24.12) that relegated fellow Americans Sara Hall and 2006 race champion to second place (4:24.34) and Erin Donohue to third (4:24.40). Amine Laalou, competing in New York for the first time, gained a narrow victory (3:52.83) with Bernard Lagat of Tucson, AZ placing second (3:53.30), and defending champion Andy Baddeley of Great Britain (3:53.34) in third. Laalou is a two-time Olympian (2004, 2008), and Lagat is the American 1500m record-holder and 8-time Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile champion.
"I knew coming out today that I was going to have to bring every game I had," explained Shannon Rowbury, 26, the 2009 IAAF World Championships 1500m bronze medalist. "We have such a talented group of American middle-distance women right now. I'm proud to be a part of it and it makes me a better athlete." The 2008 Olympian set personal records this year at 800m, 3000m and 5000m.
Amine Laalou, 28, who ran a mile personal record (PR) of 3:50.22 earlier this year, dedicated his victory to his first child, a daughter born earlier this month. "New York is a wonderful city," he said through a translator. "I would love to come here again."
The race showed a fine return to form for U.S. mile record-holder ((3:46.91, 2007) Alan Webb, who finished fourth in 3:53.72. The 27-year-old had Achilles tendon surgery earlier this year; last year, he moved from Reston, VA to Portland, OR, to train under Coach Alberto Salazar. "This was a big-boy race here today, and I'm just really glad I was in it," said the 3-time USA Outdoor 1500m champion ('04, '05, ‘07). [Alan has stuck with the sport during three difficult years of injuries and disappointment, including withdrawing from the 2008 Olympic Trials final for 1500m. He won the 2007 Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile men's title.]
It was the 30th running of the Fifth Avenue Mile, an event inaugurated in 1981 by the New York Road Runners to give middle distance stars a chance to shine on New York City's most famous thoroughfare. An elite-only race in its early years, the event now includes more than a dozen age group heats in addition to the world class races, and on Sunday, nearly 4,000 finished the mile race in several heats.
Top Finishers
30th Continental Airlines Fifth Avenue Mile
New York, NY, Sunday, September 26, 2010
Men
1) Amine Laalou (Morocco), 3:52.83, $5000
2) Bernard Lagat (Tucson, AZ), 3:53.30, $3500
3) Andy Baddeley (Great Britain), 3:53.34, $2500
4) Alan Webb (Portland, OR), 3:53.72, $1500
5) Leonel Manzano (Austin, TX), 3:54.17, $1000
6) Nick Willis (New Zealand), 3:54.81, $750
7) Will Leer (Oregon), 3:55.02, $500
8) Tom Lancashire (Great Britain), 3:55.22, $250
Women
1) Shannon Rowbury (San Francisco, CA), 4:24.12, $5000
2) Sara Hall (Mammoth Lakes, CA), 4:24.34, $3500
3) Erin Donohue (New Jersey), 4:24.40, $3500*
4) Hannah England (Great Britain), 4:25.29, $1500
5) Molly Huddle (Providence, RI), 4:25.92, $1000
6) Morgan Uceny (Mammoth Lakes, CA), 4:26.27, $750
7) Amy Mortimer (Missouri), 4:27.07, $500
8) Carmen Douma-Hussar (Canada), 4:27.53, $250
*includes $1000 halfway prem
Find full results, photos, heat videos, and more at www.nyrr.org.